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The PlayStation 4 is in high demand for the second holiday season in a row, according to Sony Computer Entertainment Europe CEO Andrew House. Without offering specific sales numbers, House told Reuters that the console is potentially "going to be quite inventory challenged." Shipments for the PS4 reached 13.5 million consoles as of the end of October.

"I'm not going to say you won't be able to find a PlayStation 4," House added. "I think it's going to be kind of hand to mouth in terms of that market." The CEO noted that sales for the system in December were in line with Sony's projections, though it was a "tougher" month thanks to the $50 holiday price cut by its main competitor in the United States, Microsoft's Xbox One. While its gaming division is thriving, Sony upped its loss forecast to $2 billion in September due to struggling smartphone sales and opted to not renew its FIFA sponsorship at the beginning of this month to spend more money on structural reforms.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andrew-Houseconsoledemandeuropeplaystationps4salessceeSony-Computer-Entertainment-Europesupplysupply-and-demandFri, 19 Dec 2014 10:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/03/psa-nintendo-investigating-wii-u-error-code-issues/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/03/psa-nintendo-investigating-wii-u-error-code-issues/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/03/psa-nintendo-investigating-wii-u-error-code-issues/#comments
After reports rolled in yesterday about Super Smash Bros. and other Wii U games being met with error codes that resulted in a loss of system functionality, Nintendo acknowledged that it is investigating the problems. Error codes 160-0103 and 160-1710 "could affect the ability of the system to function properly" for a "small percentage of consumers playing Wii U," Nintendo of America told Joystiq.

The reported issues varied from a loss of data to games on the system being unplayable entirely, issues that persisted within the data management menu on the Wii U for some. The error messages note that "there is a problem with the system memory." Nintendo encourages anyone experiencing the errors codes to call the Nintendo contact center at 1-800-255-3700 for help, until a solution is available.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brickbrickingconsoleerrorerror-codeissuesnintendopsasuper-smash-bros-for-wii-uwii-uWed, 03 Dec 2014 11:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/19/ea-cfo-microsoft-is-catching-up-to-sony/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/19/ea-cfo-microsoft-is-catching-up-to-sony/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/19/ea-cfo-microsoft-is-catching-up-to-sony/#comments
Electronic Arts CFO Blake Jorgensen believes Microsoft is "catching up" to Sony in the current-gen console battle. Jorgensen said during a talk at the UBS Global Technology Conference in Sausalito, California yesterday that "Sony has jumped out to a lead with a great console and I think a great pricing strategy" with the PS4.

Shipments for Sony's latest home console reached 13.5 million consoles as of late October, whereas Microsoft reported that shipments of Xbox One consoles hit 10 million globally last week. Jorgensen saw the Xbox One's $50 price cut for the holidays as a tactic by Microsoft that "will continue to pull the consumer into the new consoles." The EA executive estimated that combined sales for the two systems will top 25 million consoles following the holidays.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blake-JorgensencompetitionconsoleconsolesEAElectronic-Artsmicrosoftplaystationps4salesxbox-oneWed, 19 Nov 2014 11:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/17/gamestops-black-friday-ad-leaks-xbox-one-ps4-bundle-deals/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/17/gamestops-black-friday-ad-leaks-xbox-one-ps4-bundle-deals/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/17/gamestops-black-friday-ad-leaks-xbox-one-ps4-bundle-deals/#comments
GameStop's Black Friday ad has apparently leaked, spilling dollar-saving deals all over the Internet's floor. The retailer will reportedly offer the Xbox One holiday bundle that includes Assassin's Creed: Unity and Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag for $330, as well as the PS4 limited edition bundle with Grand Theft Auto 5 and The Last of Us for $400.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-fridayblack-friday-2014consoledealsdiscountsgamestophardwareholidayholiday-2014microsoftplaystationps3ps4salexboxxbox-oneMon, 17 Nov 2014 19:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/14/gamestop-amazon-discount-ps3-and-ps-tv-ahead-of-black-friday/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/14/gamestop-amazon-discount-ps3-and-ps-tv-ahead-of-black-friday/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/14/gamestop-amazon-discount-ps3-and-ps-tv-ahead-of-black-friday/#commentsBlack Friday may be two weeks away, but retailers are already dropping the price on two pieces of Sony hardware: PlayStation TV and PlayStation 3. Both systems will start at $80 and $200 respectively through Amazon and GameStop for the holiday season, though GameStop notes that the deals are temporary and are "first-come, first-served."

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonblack-fridayblack-friday-2014consoledealsdiscountdiscountsgamestophardwareholidayholiday-2014playstationplaystation-TVps-tvps3saleFri, 14 Nov 2014 18:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/31/ps4-sales-up-to-13-5-million-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/31/ps4-sales-up-to-13-5-million-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/31/ps4-sales-up-to-13-5-million-consoles/#comments
Sony reported 309.5 billion yen in sales ($2.77 billion) for its Game and Network Services division for the second quarter, ending September 30. It represents an 83.2 percent improvement year-over-year thanks to the continued success of the company's latest home console, PlayStation 4. Shipments for the PS4 have now reached 13.5 million, as the company moved 3.3 million units during the quarter.

The Games and Network Services division also posted an operating income of 21.8 billion yen ($195 million), a massive increase compared to the 4.8 billion yen ($43 million) reported in the last quarter and the 4.2 billion yen loss ($37.6 million) year-over-year. While the gaming division thrives, Sony itself is in the red, reporting an 85.6 billion yen operating loss ($766 million). The company increased its loss forecast in September due to its struggling smartphone sales.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsolesfinancialslossesplaystationprofitsps4q2-2015revenuesalessonyFri, 31 Oct 2014 21:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/23/xbox-ones-screenshot-feature-wont-arrive-until-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/23/xbox-ones-screenshot-feature-wont-arrive-until-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/23/xbox-ones-screenshot-feature-wont-arrive-until-next-year/#comments
The Xbox One's screenshot-making feature won't be added to the system's feature set until next year. Xbox head Phil Spencer explained to IGN that as the company comes "back into the new year, we'll see new stuff, and screenshots is on the list." The news follows Spencer's promise a few weeks ago that the company would deliver on oft-requested features such as screenshot creation and background themes for the Xbox One's dashboard. Those custom backgrounds will be part of the system's November update.

"In December, it's probably a time for us to pause for a little bit and settle just as all the new consoles are coming online," Spencer said, indicating a small break in the action for the console's development team. He also noted that screenshot creation for Xbox One is "a little more technically challenging than I thought," but that the team found a "good solution" two weeks ago. "They're working on it. They know people want it. The team has a path to getting it done, and now it's just prioritizing," he added.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsolesmicrosoftPhil-Spencerscreenshotssystem-updatexbox-oneThu, 23 Oct 2014 11:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/10/report-sony-to-ship-200k-ps4s-to-china-by-december/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/10/report-sony-to-ship-200k-ps4s-to-china-by-december/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/10/report-sony-to-ship-200k-ps4s-to-china-by-december/#comments
Sony plans on bringing 200,000 PS4 systems to China by December, Bloomberg reports. The number comes from a filing on the Chinese (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone website, which reportedly notes that Sony intends on shipping that many consoles to the region on an annual basis. Sony Computer Entertainment spokesman Masaki Tsukakoshi confirmed the report with Bloomberg and noted that the actual PS4 production amounts may vary.

This follows news of Microsoft's relative success in China, as it reportedly sold 100,000 Xbox One consoles in its introductory week. Microsoft is the first to bring an official foreign console to China in 14 years since the government lifted its console ban in January. China issued a new set of rules for foreign video game and console sales in April, one of which requires that companies work with a China-based partner. Sony paired with the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group in May to bring the PS4 to the country.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachinese-governmentconsoleconsole-banconsolesfree-trade-zoneplaystationprojectionsps4shanghai-free-trade-zoneshanghai-oriental-pearl-groupshippingSONYSony-Computer-EntertainmentFri, 10 Oct 2014 14:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/06/report-microsoft-sells-100k-xbox-one-consoles-in-china/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/06/report-microsoft-sells-100k-xbox-one-consoles-in-china/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/06/report-microsoft-sells-100k-xbox-one-consoles-in-china/#comments
Microsoft has reportedly sold over 100,000 Xbox One consoles in the system's introductory week in China. The sales figure comes from an interview with Shanghai Media Group Vice President Zhang Dazhong, courtesy of Chinese news site 17173 (translated by Kotaku). Dazhong also noted that Microsoft's Chinese partner BesTV aims to sell one million consoles in the region over the next year. The system launched in late September along with 10 games, and Microsoft said it is preparing an additional 70 games for the region.

The Xbox One is the first official foreign console to arrive in China in 14 years following the government's move to lift its longstanding console ban in January. It then began drafting rules that dictates how companies can sell games and game consoles under Shanghai's free trade zone, settling on a new set of policies in April. Game sales in China are restricted based on whether the government determines that products threaten "China's national unity, sovereignty, or territorial integrity," whether they "instigate racial/ethnic hatred," include gambling-related features, promote drug use, obscenity, violence or violate China's constitution.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bestvchinachinese-governmentconsoleconsolesmicrosoftsalesxbox-oneMon, 06 Oct 2014 11:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/04/xbox-one-promotion-offers-free-game-with-console-purchase/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/04/xbox-one-promotion-offers-free-game-with-console-purchase/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/04/xbox-one-promotion-offers-free-game-with-console-purchase/#comments
A new promotion from Microsoft will offer prospective Xbox One owners a free game with the purchase of the next-gen console. Starting on Sunday, September 7, those that buy the system from a participating retailer in the U.S. will receive a free game of their choice, priced up to $60.

The offer is applicable to Xbox One bundles as well, so those buying in to Microsoft's latest console can score two games with the Madden NFL 15 and Forza 5 bundles, for example, or opt to buy the console-plus-Kinect bundle instead. The free games must be disc-based as well, so digital-only games like Ubisoft's Valiant Hearts are off the table. Microsoft's Xbox One promotion runs through Saturday, September 13.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bundleconsolefreefree-gamehardwaremicrosoftxbox-oneThu, 04 Sep 2014 09:45:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/01/light-pink-and-white-ps-vita-announced-for-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/01/light-pink-and-white-ps-vita-announced-for-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/01/light-pink-and-white-ps-vita-announced-for-japan/#comments
Sony announced a new pink PlayStation Vita system during its SCEJA Press Conference today. The back of the system is light pink and the front-facing part is white. Sony will launch the pretty new Vita on November 13 in Japan. It will cost players 18,980 yen (roughly $182.20).

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementconsolejapanlight-pink-white-vitapinkplaystationplaystation-japan-2014playstation-vitaSCEJsonytgs-2014vitaMon, 01 Sep 2014 02:23:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/22/microsofts-xbox-revenue-up-14-thanks-to-console-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/22/microsofts-xbox-revenue-up-14-thanks-to-console-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/22/microsofts-xbox-revenue-up-14-thanks-to-console-sales/#comments
Microsoft reported an increase in revenue for the Xbox platform to the tune of $104 million, or 14 percent, in its fourth quarter results (ending June 30). Xbox One and Xbox 360 sales teamed with the company's Surface sales to boost its Computing and Gaming Hardware category by 23 percent for the quarter to $1.44 billion (an increase of $274 million). In total, Microsoft reported a 17.7 percent leap in revenue, from $19.9 billion to $23.4 billion in the past quarter.

Microsoft says it shipped 1.1 million consoles during the quarter, which compares to one million in the same period of time one year ago. Just last week, the company said sales of its Kinect-less packages doubled Xbox One sales in June. As of April, Microsoft shipped 5 million Xbox One systems to date. Meanwhile, NPD reported a substantial lift in video game hardware sales across the board last week, an increase of 106 percent in June compared to the previous month.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleearningsfinancialshardwarekinectmicrosoftQ4-2014revenuesalesshippedxboxxbox-oneTue, 22 Jul 2014 21:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/24/gamestop-sees-increased-xbox-one-interest-following-price-drop-r/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/24/gamestop-sees-increased-xbox-one-interest-following-price-drop-r/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/24/gamestop-sees-increased-xbox-one-interest-following-price-drop-r/#comments
GameStop President Tony Bartel noted an increased interest for Microsoft's Xbox One following the hardware manufacturer's recent decision to change course and package the console without the Kinect camera peripheral. "I definitely think we're already seeing in our stores with our reservation program as well as the dialog to Power-Up Rewards that there's a stronger demand as a result of the price drop," Bartel said during the company's earnings call this week.

Microsoft announced that it will begin selling the Xbox One without the Kinect last week. The dis-Kinected console will hit retail on June 9 for $399 in North America and £349 in the UK. Following the news, GameStop began offering special trade-in prices for Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles in exchange for in-store credit towards the cheaper Xbox One. Microsoft also revealed that it will no longer keep media streaming app like Netflix and Hulu Plus behind its Xbox Live paywall, though it confirmed to Joystiq that free-to-play and subscription-based games such as The Elder Scrolls Online would still require the paid Xbox Live subscription to play.

"The good news for us is it sells more units. We'll sell a lot more units, because like we shared earlier, we're driving a lot of the growth, and that means there will be more [Xbox One] units out there to put software on," Bartel added. GameStop reported total global sales of $2 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 (ending May 3, 2014), which amounted to a seven percent increase year-over-year.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsolesearningsfinancialsgamestophardwaremicrosoftq1-2014retailtony-bartelxbox-onexbox-one-80Sat, 24 May 2014 14:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/29/xbox-one-charts-course-for-china-in-september/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/29/xbox-one-charts-course-for-china-in-september/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/29/xbox-one-charts-course-for-china-in-september/#comments
Microsoft will launch the Xbox One in China this September, following the Chinese government's decision in January to lift its ban on the sale of foreign video game consoles. The ban stood for 14 years, and with its dismissal China crafted new rules to regulate console and game distribution.

Among those rules is the requirement for foreign companies to work with local organizations to produce consoles within the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, which Microsoft can fulfill thanks to its partnership with Chinese media company BesTV. The Xbox One manufacturer teamed up with BesTV in September 2013 to create E-Home Entertainment. Microsoft holds a 49 percent stake in E-Home and BesTV holds 51 percent, both combining to invest $237 million. E-Home Entertainment plans to establish an "innovation program" that will foster Chinese development on Xbox One.

Microsoft launched the Xbox One in 13 regions in November and announced plans last month to bring the system to 26 more markets in September (with China now making that 27).

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banbestvchinachinese-governmentconsoleconsole-banmicrosoftxbox-oneTue, 29 Apr 2014 20:23:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/23/china-to-restrict-game-sales-based-on-content-like-gambling-vio/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/23/china-to-restrict-game-sales-based-on-content-like-gambling-vio/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/23/china-to-restrict-game-sales-based-on-content-like-gambling-vio/#comments
Since China temporarily lifted its ban on foreign video game consoles in January, it was a matter of time before the government offered new rules to regulate console and game distribution. According to a Shanghai government release translated by Games in Asia, those rules will dictate the kind of content that won't be allowed to be sold in the country, such gambiling-related game features.

Additionally, anything deemed threatening to "China's national unity, sovereignty, or territorial integrity" and content that "instigates racial/ethnic hatred" won't be distributable in the country. Games also may not promote "obscenity, drug use, violence or gambling," as well as cults and superstitions. Approved games cannot violate China's constitution, nor can they harm its culture, traditions and public ethics.

The policies state that foreign companies must work with a local company to produce consoles within the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, such as Sony's PlayStation 4 or Microsoft's Xbox One, the latter of which arrived in 26 more regions just last month. Plus, games in China must go through an approval process with Shanghai's culture department, which will take "no longer than 20 days." This applies to game updates with new content, such as DLC, even if the game itself was already approved. Lastly, all console games will be required to have a simplified Chinese version, so publishers won't be able to simply re-sell Hong Kong and Taiwan versions of their games.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bancensorshipchinachinese-governmentconsoleconsolesdistributionregulationShanghaiWed, 23 Apr 2014 22:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/02/amazon-fire-tv-games-can-use-other-bluetooth-controllers/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/02/amazon-fire-tv-games-can-use-other-bluetooth-controllers/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/02/amazon-fire-tv-games-can-use-other-bluetooth-controllers/#comments
Amazon just revealed its $99 Fire TV game and video streaming device today, and unveiled a $40 Bluetooth game pad to go along with it. As it turns out, developers appear to have the option to make their Amazon Fire TV games compatible with other controllers.

"I don't have the full data set, if any is the right term. Generally speaking, it's a Bluetooth controller," Mike Frazzini, VP of Amazon Games told Engadget today when asked about the Fire TV's controller support. "And the same thing vice-versa. Third-party controllers can work on Fire TV as well."

According to a mandatory configuration file for all Amazon Fire TV game developers listed on Amazon's site, developers must note if the app "supports a game controller, either the Amazon Fire game controller or a Bluetooth game controller from another manufacturer." While Amazon doesn't confirm official Fire TV support with the game pads, other Bluetooth controllers like Nintendo's Wii Remote and Sony's DualShock 4 could feasibly work with some games if developers so choose.

Likewise, while the Amazon Fire TV supports up to seven Bluetooth game controllers simultaneously, software development kit documentation notes that "only four of those controllers are assigned to player numbers." This seemingly caps local multiplayer gaming on Amazon Fire TV at four players at a given moment, which may not be an issue since gaming is more or less a "bonus" for the streaming device.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesamazonamazon-fire-tvamazon-gamesandroidAPIbluetoothconsolecontrollercontrollersdevelopmentdualshock-4fire-tvhardwaremike-frazzinimobileperipheralssdksoftware-development-kitstreamingthird-partywii-remoteWed, 02 Apr 2014 15:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/02/amazon-reveals-game-movie-streaming-hardware-amazon-fire-tv/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/02/amazon-reveals-game-movie-streaming-hardware-amazon-fire-tv/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/02/amazon-reveals-game-movie-streaming-hardware-amazon-fire-tv/#comments
Amazon announced Amazon Fire TV today, a device that streams games and movies over the web. The Fire TV features 2 GB of RAM and a dedicated GPU, which Amazon said is the kind "usually found in smartphones." Additionally, Fire TV is based on Android and HTML, so apps are expected to be easy for developers to port to the device. It comes with a TV remote-like controller that includes a microphone on it, which can be used for the device's voice search functions. The Fire TV's separate dual-stick game pad costs $40.

The device's UI includes sections for movies, television, apps and photos in addition to games. Among the app icons shown during Amazon's presentation were Twitch, WWE Network, Watch ESPN, Netflix and Hulu Plus. Amazon said it is "starting off with Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant Video of course, and we're rolling in other partners over time." As for the games available on Fire TV, the device will host "thousands" from publishers like EA and Ubisoft, and will include Minecraft shortly after it launches.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon-fire-tvamazon-game-studiosandroidconsolefire-tvhardwareLiveStreammobilestreamingWed, 02 Apr 2014 11:11:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/26/nvidia-shield-slashed-to-199-for-april-getting-remote-game-str/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/26/nvidia-shield-slashed-to-199-for-april-getting-remote-game-str/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/26/nvidia-shield-slashed-to-199-for-april-getting-remote-game-str/#comments
Nvidia's Android-based handheld game system, Shield, will receive a temporary price drop for April, cutting the system by $50 to $199 for the month. The price cut is accompanied by new features arriving in a software update for the system next week, including a new user interface for the Shield's button-mapping feature. The addition lets players use the Shield's physical buttons for touch-based games on the Google Play store.

The hardware company will also add a beta version of its away-from-home game streaming support feature. Players will be able to remotely play PC games on their Shield, waking up and logging in to locked PCs while on the go. Additionally, the update will add bluetooth keyboard and mouse support for those that want to hook their Shields up to a TV to play on a bigger screen. Lastly, the Nvidia Shield will receive the latest version of the Android operating system, nicknamed KitKat (version 4.4.2).

Nvidia also recently revealed that Valve's popular first-person puzzler Portal will receive a full PC port on Android with full Shield support.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidconsolefirmwarefirmware-updatehandheldhardwaremobilenvidianvidia-shieldpcprice-cutprice-dropremote-playsaleshieldsoftware-updateupdateWed, 26 Mar 2014 20:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/18/xbox-one-rolling-to-26-new-regions-in-september/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/18/xbox-one-rolling-to-26-new-regions-in-september/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/18/xbox-one-rolling-to-26-new-regions-in-september/#comments
Microsoft plans to bring the Xbox One to 26 more markets in September, eight of which were in the original plans for the console's November 2013 launch. Those eight territories, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland, were cut from the first run in August, at which point Microsoft scaled its launch plans back to 13 regions.

Head past the break to see the list of the other 18 regions the system will arrive in come September.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>belgiumconsoledenmarkfinlandhardwareJapanlaunchmicrosoftNetherlandsnorwayregionsrussiaswedenswitzerlandTerritoryxbox-oneTue, 18 Mar 2014 10:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/20/iwata-clarifies-nintendo-is-not-done-with-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/20/iwata-clarifies-nintendo-is-not-done-with-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/20/iwata-clarifies-nintendo-is-not-done-with-consoles/#commentsLast week, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata mentioned that the company was rethinking its business strategy following poor sales of the Wii U console. Speculation that Nintendo would cease building consoles immediately followed, but Iwata assures fans and investors that this is not the case.

"The spread of smart devices does not spell the end of game consoles. It's not that simple," Iwata stated. "It doesn't mean that we should put Mario on smartphones." Instead, Iwata sees the new ubiquity of mobile devices as a platform that Nintendo could and should tap to promote its console releases. Here he cites GungHo Online Entertainment's Puzzle And Dragons as an example, pointing out that the 3DS incarnation of the game sold more than a million copies in its first month of existence, despite Puzzle And Dragons being available as a free-to-play offering on all manner of mobile devices.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Iwata remains convinced that good games can sell consoles, regardless of how technologically impressive they might be - though modern customers need more convincing than earlier generations. To that end, Nintendo is reportedly pouring money into research and development, and "Mr. Iwata promises to surprise game players in the future."

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsconsoleiwatamobilenintendopuzzle-and-dragonssalessatoru-iwatawii-uMon, 20 Jan 2014 15:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/13/china-drafting-new-rules-for-consoles-disallows-products-hosti/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/13/china-drafting-new-rules-for-consoles-disallows-products-hosti/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/13/china-drafting-new-rules-for-consoles-disallows-products-hosti/#comments
Roughly one week after China temporarily lifted its ban on foreign-made video game consoles, the government is looking to draft new rules for regulation, Bloomberg reported. Among the principles that govern the distribution of game consoles under the rules of the free trade zone, head of China's Ministry of Culture Cai Wu said "things that are hostile to China, or not in conformity with the outlook of China's government, won't be allowed."

"We want to open the window a crack to get some fresh air, but we still need a screen to block the flies and mosquitoes," Wu added. Whether that indicates further regulation in China on the distribution of games based on their content is unknown. China started its plans last year to revoke the console ban, which began in 2000. Following the ban's temporary suspension last week, the stock prices for both Sony and Nintendo saw small increases.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bancai-wuchinachina-ministry-of-culturechinese-governmentconsoleconsole-banconsolesdistributionhardwaremanufacturingregulationrulesMon, 13 Jan 2014 13:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/09/nintendo-sony-stock-strengthens-following-suspension-of-chinese/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/09/nintendo-sony-stock-strengthens-following-suspension-of-chinese/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/09/nintendo-sony-stock-strengthens-following-suspension-of-chinese/#comments
After China opted to temporarily lift its ban on foreign-made video game consoles earlier this week, both Nintendo and Sony saw small bumps in their respective stock prices. As of this writing, Nintendo shares are trading at $18.66, whereas Sony is trading at $18.25. By comparison, Nintendo closed Monday at $17.01 and Sony closed at $17.30.

Nintendo's shares lifted to 15,850 yen on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Wednesday, an 11 percent increase, then closed Thursday at 15,420 yen. Sony closed at 1,894 yen Thursday, up from Monday's 1,802 yen. Nintendo's increase is the highest since it traded at 16,430 yen in July 2011, at which point Nintendo dropped the price of the 3DS from $250 to $170, resulting in a stock plummet the company is still recovering from.

To temper the excitement, both Nintendo and Sony's movements aren't enormous compared to its recent history. Additionally, both company's consoles were available in China as grey market imports, so the suspension of the console ban in the country just makes access to game systems that much easier. As Gamasutra points out though, should Sony or Nintendo begin manufacturing systems in the free trade zone, it must all be inspected by Chinese authorities before the consoles can be legally sold in the country, which might be enough time for the government to resume the console ban altogether.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dschinachinese-governmentconsoleconsole-banconsolesnintendoplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4SONYstocksvitawii-uThu, 09 Jan 2014 11:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/07/china-temporarily-lifts-ban-on-foreign-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/07/china-temporarily-lifts-ban-on-foreign-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/07/china-temporarily-lifts-ban-on-foreign-consoles/#comments
China is allowing foreign firms to make game consoles in Shanghai's free trade zone and then sell them in the country, after the government temporarily suspended its 14-year-ban on foreign console sales. Both the BBC and Reuters report that the Chinese government issued a statement on Monday, noting it didn't say how long the suspension will last.

China enacted the console ban in 2000, citing adverse effects on children and young people, but the government began laying out plans last year to revoke it. Although it's temporary, the lifting of the ban opens up a huge market for the platform holders to be directly involved in; before the ban, consoles were generally acquired in China as grey market imports, with a third party unaffiliated with the manufacturer selling them.

As GI.biz notes, China's gaming market is thriving. 2013 saw tracked industry revenues of $13.75 billion in the country, with just $10 million generated by console game sales.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banchinachinese-governmentconsoleconsolesTue, 07 Jan 2014 09:02:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/06/alienware-announces-valve-partnership-steam-machines/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/06/alienware-announces-valve-partnership-steam-machines/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/06/alienware-announces-valve-partnership-steam-machines/#comments
Alienware will beam a Steam Machine down to Earth in late 2014, the Dell subsidiary announced today. No spec details or price was given, but the Alienware Steam Machine will, according to a statement by Gabe Newell given in a press release, encapsulate "the full potential of what a Steam Machine should be." If by "full potential" Newell means that it looks pretty, well, we can't argue there. Sleek!

"We have been working with Alienware since we began defining our vision of the Steam Machine," Newell said. "Alienware's historic commitment to gaming, their design and engineering capabilities and their global reach made them an ideal partner for us on our Steam Machine project."

Alienware will also be offering a Steam Machine version of their X51 desktop PC in late 2014.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alienwareCESces-2014computerconsoledellhardwarepcsteamsteam machinesteam machinessteam-boxsteamosvalveMon, 06 Jan 2014 21:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/06/origin-pc-launching-two-chronos-steam-machines-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/06/origin-pc-launching-two-chronos-steam-machines-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/06/origin-pc-launching-two-chronos-steam-machines-this-year/#comments
Origin PC, not to be confused with EA's Origin service, announced two of its own Steam Machines today. Dubbed the "Chronos" line, the Steam boxes will run Valve's SteamOS operating system, first announced in September 2013.

Origin will launch both the normal and SLI-Edition versions of Chronos this year for an undetermined price. Both versions are customizable, though the noteworthy differences between the two is the 32 GB of memory, up to 14 TB of combined solid-state and hard drive space, as well as a 40-in-1 card reader in the SLI-Edition compared to the normal version's 16 GB of memory, and up to 6 TB of storage space. Both Chronos systems will include the ability to dual-boot a version of Windows 7 or Windows 8 in addition to SteamOS.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CESces-2014chronoscomputerconsolehardwareorigin-pcpcsteamsteam-boxsteam-machinessteamosvalveMon, 06 Jan 2014 21:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/12/29/mmo-publisher-perfect-world-entertainment-bringing-current-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/12/29/mmo-publisher-perfect-world-entertainment-bringing-current-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/12/29/mmo-publisher-perfect-world-entertainment-bringing-current-and/#comments
Perfect World Entertainment, publisher of free-to-play games like Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter and Star Trek Online, has announced the creation of a new company division that plans to bring "current and future" games to both current and next-gen consoles.

Perfect World Entertainment CEO Alan Chen said in a press release that the studio's move to consoles was a "natural progression," but no details were given on how the company's mostly keyboard-and-mouse-centric games will be translated to the controller-oriented consoles. The press release did, however, tease that more details will be coming sometime next year.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consolefree-to-playmmoneverwinterpcperfect-world-entertainmentstar-trek-onlineSun, 29 Dec 2013 17:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/26/teardown-suggests-xbox-one-manufacturing-cost-of-471/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/26/teardown-suggests-xbox-one-manufacturing-cost-of-471/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/26/teardown-suggests-xbox-one-manufacturing-cost-of-471/#comments
The Xbox One costs Microsoft $471 to build, according to a hardware teardown and analysis by research firm IHS. IHS also cracked open the PlayStation 4 to find that Sony spends $381 building its latest home console. The bill of materials for the Xbox One amounts to $457, with the assembly and manufacturing of the system estimated at $14.

IHS says that the Xbox One's Kinect camera adds $75 to the total cost of the Xbox One, including assembly, $11 more expensive than the original Kinect's bill of materials and manufacturing costs. Among the other components that factor in to the system's cost for Microsoft is a Blu-Ray drive manufactured by Lite-On that accounts for $32 of the Xbox One's bill of materials, and the system's $25 external power supply unit.

This is a prototype Steam Machines box from iBuyPower, courtesy of our friends at Engadget. The box comes in two flavors (codenamed "Gordon" and "Freeman," of course), as the center strip is either clear or black when not illuminated with varying colors.

Much glow.

While iBuyPower wasn't willing to share the specs of its version of the Steam-powered hardware, it said the system will run Steam games at 60 frames per second in 1080p. The system is expected to be ready for a 2014 launch, and the two prototype models currently run an early build of SteamOS, the operating system Valve announced would be on its own Steam Machines hardware. Both were announced alongside a Steam Controller in September.

Very Steam Box.

Much update:The Verge reports that the system will include a "multicore AMD CPU and a discrete AMD Radeon R9 270 graphics card" and comes with a 500 GB hard drive, bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities. That CPU is very core.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoledogehardwareibuypowerprototypesteamsteam-boxsteam-machinessteamboxsteamosvalveTue, 26 Nov 2013 10:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/22/gamestop-sells-through-ps4-allocation-2-3-million-people-on-fi/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/22/gamestop-sells-through-ps4-allocation-2-3-million-people-on-fi/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/22/gamestop-sells-through-ps4-allocation-2-3-million-people-on-fi/#comments
GameStop has sold through all of its PS4 reservations and some additional allocated consoles it received from Sony, the retailer announced during its third quarter earnings call. GameStop President Tony Bartel added that the company has "over 2.3 million customers on the 'first to know' list, which indicates continued demand for months to come" for Sony's console.

"Although we won't reveal the total amount of units for competitive reasons, our share was higher than on any previous console launch, and our sell-through since launch was 80 percent higher than the total amount of PS3s that we sold in our 2006 fiscal year," Bartel said.

Bartel corroborated Sony Computer Entertainment of America CEO Jack Tretton's recent projection that the PS4 would sell 3 million units in North America by the end of the year, noting that GameStop expects "to sell a large portion of that."

In regards to projections for Xbox One sales, which launched today, Bartel said "the value of our reservations and the additional allocation is 15 percent higher than the amount of Xbox 360s that we sold during our entire 2005 fiscal year. So we are poised for a powerful launch."

Update: As a clarification, GameStop has informed Joystiq that the 2.3 million people on its 'first to know' list is for PS4 and Xbox One customers combined, not just the former.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleearningsearnings-reportfinancialsgamestophardwaremicrosoftnext-genplaystationps4ps4-launchQ3-2013third-quartertony-bartelxbox-onexbox-one-launchFri, 22 Nov 2013 11:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/19/ps4-costs-381-to-make-according-to-hardware-teardown/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/19/ps4-costs-381-to-make-according-to-hardware-teardown/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/19/ps4-costs-381-to-make-according-to-hardware-teardown/#comments
The PlayStation 4 costs $381 for Sony to build, $18 under its retail price of $399. The figure comes from a hardware teardown by research firm IHS that included the bill of materials, which amounts to $372, as well as per-unit cost of assembly in the assessment. The teardown notes that the system's processor and memory account for about half of the cost of the entire console at $188, and that the PS4's 500 GB hard drive is $1 cheaper than the 120 GB one found in the PS3, thanks to the "major decline in HDD costs during the past four years."

Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Andrew House said in August that the system "will not generate anything like the losses we did for the PlayStation 3," which amounted to $3.5 billion in 2007 and 2008, after the PS3 launched in November 2006 for $599. IHS' teardown of the PS3 at the time found that the system cost Sony $805, and the company still lost roughly $40 per system as of December 2009.

The PS4 is off to a good start, as Sony sold one million units in the console's first day at retail. Sony addressed a few issues with launch systems, estimating that the number of problematic PS4 consoles is less than one percent of those shipped.

"The number of affected PS4 systems is less than one percent, which represents a very small percentage of total units shipped to date and is within the expected range for a new product introduction," a Sony representative told Engadget. "We understand the frustration of consumers that have had a problem and are working with them and our retail partners to help troubleshoot issues and ensure affected units are exchanged."

Given that several issues were reported to Sony, the hardware manufacturer believes "there isn't a singular problem that could impact a broader percentage of PS4 units." The company previously said it is investigating "isolated" PS4 issues and offered troubleshooting steps for players experiencing "blinking blue light" problems.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoledamageddefectivefailurehardwareplaystationps4ps4-launchsonytroubleshootingTue, 19 Nov 2013 17:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/10/10/gamestop-discounting-used-xbox-360-and-ps3-systems/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/10/10/gamestop-discounting-used-xbox-360-and-ps3-systems/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/10/10/gamestop-discounting-used-xbox-360-and-ps3-systems/#comments
Ahead of next-gen console launches this November, GameStop is cutting the prices of its used PS3 and Xbox 360 hardware from October 11 to October 24. During the promotion, customers can pick up the original Xbox 360 for $99.99 (previously $129.99) and the Xbox 360 Slim 4 GB system for $119.99 (previously $179.99). All pre-owned PS3 hardware is marked down to $149.99 (from up to $259.99).

GameStop is also throwing in any used game priced at $19.99 or less for free with any used hardware purchase. Additionally, those with GameStop's PowerUp Rewards loyalty program card in hand can get in on the promotion a day early and also receive a 30 percent discount on used PS3 and Xbox 360 accessories. That is on top of the 10 percent discount program members receive off their used purchases.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesconsolediscountgamestophardwaremicrosoftplaystationPre-ownedps3salesystemusedxboxThu, 10 Oct 2013 03:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/20/wal-mart-opening-up-pre-orders-for-xbox-one-and-ps4-on-august-24/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/20/wal-mart-opening-up-pre-orders-for-xbox-one-and-ps4-on-august-24/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/20/wal-mart-opening-up-pre-orders-for-xbox-one-and-ps4-on-august-24/#comments
Starting August 24, Wal-Mart stores across the US will open up pre-orders again for PS4 and Xbox One consoles. Folks that show up to reserve a console will need to put a 10 percent down payment on their system of choice: $40 for PS4 and $50 for Xbox One.

Wal-Mart will hold all pre-ordered consoles until December 13, giving customers more time to pay for their systems, even after their respective release dates pass. In the PS4's case, that launch date is November 15 as Sony announced during its Gamescom press conference today.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consolehardwareMicrosoftPlayStationpre-orderps4sonywal-martxbox-oneTue, 20 Aug 2013 19:45:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/14/xbox-one-will-automatically-adjust-when-overheating/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/14/xbox-one-will-automatically-adjust-when-overheating/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/14/xbox-one-will-automatically-adjust-when-overheating/#comments
The Xbox One will automatically detect if it is overheating and will make adjustments to cool the system down, General Manager of Console Development Leo del Castillo told Gizmodo. As is common with some PCs, Castillo said the development team can "dial back the power of the box considerably," forcing the system into a low-power state to correct issues.

Of course, the primary method for cooling the system down revolves around how the fan inside the box operates. "The way we designed the box, we don't actually intend it to ever have to go to maximum speed under normal environmental conditions," Castillo said. "But there is overhead. So we'll allow the fan to go all the way up to its maximum speed and if that solves the condition without the user having to do anything."

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleleo-del-castilloMicrosoftoverheatingsystemxbox-oneWed, 14 Aug 2013 16:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/09/rumor-leaked-target-ad-shows-vita-for-200/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/09/rumor-leaked-target-ad-shows-vita-for-200/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/09/rumor-leaked-target-ad-shows-vita-for-200/#comments
The PlayStation Vita's price may be coming down in the near future, providing a leaked Target ad by the Blu-Ray Forum is accurate. The ad, a snippet of which can be seen above, shows a $200 price point for the system. The standard retail price for the WiFi-only Vita is $250, while the 3G-enabled Vita is $300.

Japan received a price cut for the system in February, which was followed by Sony Worldwide Studios head Shuhei Yoshida saying that North American players would not see the same price drop. Whether this ad indicates a permanent price drop is on the way is unclear, though it's just a matter of time before we know for sure; the ad is reportedly for the week of August 18 through August 24.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleleakplaystationplaystation-vitaprice-cutprice-dropps-vitasalesystemTargetvitaFri, 09 Aug 2013 16:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/sony-offering-gta5-ps3-bundle-with-branded-headset/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/sony-offering-gta5-ps3-bundle-with-branded-headset/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/sony-offering-gta5-ps3-bundle-with-branded-headset/#comments
Sony has just announced here at E3 that it will be offering a PlayStation 3 console bundled up with a copy of Grand Theft Auto 5, along with a specially-branded headset, for $299. The bundle will be available with the game itself right away on September 17.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bundleconsolee3e3-2013grand-theft-auto-5gta5playstationplaystation 3Playstation3ps3salesonysony-playstationMon, 10 Jun 2013 21:37:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/the-iam8bit-entertainment-systems-homemade-console-premieres-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/the-iam8bit-entertainment-systems-homemade-console-premieres-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/the-iam8bit-entertainment-systems-homemade-console-premieres-in/#comments
The iam8bit gallery in Los Angeles premiered its latest video game-related art show last night, called the iam8bit Entertainment System. The centerpiece of the show was Travis Chen's homemade two-player console, which is a custom-made PC running MAME encased in natural bamboo, with two homemade controller boxes playing three different indie games: Canabalt's two-player version, the Sportsfriends bundle'sBaraBariBall, and Chen's own Adventure Time game jam game, Bad Atticube.

Chen is a former Neversoft developer who now works on both iOS games with Scopely and his own indie creations, including the recent Typing Karaoke. iam8bit pitched the new show to him as "being kind of like a mock release of a game console" (in the shadow of next week's E3 and its two new consoles), and Chen said he emailed iam8bit co-founder Jon Gibson to say, "Jon, I'm building the console."

Chen's work is impressive: The "iES" wood case was laser-cut (though Chen says some sanding was needed to bring it all together), and the front of the console has an LED screen that shows various ASCII text. There are colored buttons on the top of the main unit, and pressing those changes whatever's shown on the screen, from crazy visualizers to a running dialogue between the console and its player.

The console is being offered for sale in the gallery, and Chen says if it does sell he wants to customize it for the buyer. But if it doesn't sell, Chen has other plans in mind. "I want to enter it into Indiecade and maybe even the IGF," he says. "Not too many guys are entering hardware, and I think that's really interesting; the idea of indie hardware."

Beyond the fact that Project M.O.J.O has been "designed to interact seamlessly" with Mad Catz's Gamesmart line of peripherals, nothing else is known about the product with regards to its technical specifications, pricing structure or even what its real name is - we're assuming "Project M.O.J.O" won't be going on the box.

Surely, the answers to all (or most) of these questions will be revealed sometime next week, at which point we'll see how Project M.O.J.O stacks up against the Ouya, Gamestick and Gamepop.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidconsoleE3-2013hardwaremad-catzmicro-consolemobileproject-mojoFri, 07 Jun 2013 13:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/iam8bits-entertainment-system-to-feature-in-retro-art-exhibit/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/iam8bits-entertainment-system-to-feature-in-retro-art-exhibit/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/iam8bits-entertainment-system-to-feature-in-retro-art-exhibit/#comments
Los Angeles gallery iam8bit is hosting an art exhibit in celebration of 1980s games, called "iam8bit Entertainment System." Here's where it gets a tad confusing: It also has a physical console designed specifically for retro gaming, called "iam8bit Entertainment System." So, the iam8bit Entertainment System will be at iam8bit Entertainment System from June 7 to June 20, and the console will be available to order online at iam8bit.

Sometimes we just don't understand art.

Iam8bit Entertainment System - the exhibit - hosts a ton of work from prominent artists around the globe, including the ones whose installments are shown in the gallery below: Olly Moss, Dadu Shin, DKNG Studios, Hine Mizushima, JC Richard, Jophen Stein, Mark Englert and Steve Courtney.

The show will include a treat for DuckTales: Remastered fans, with a 10 foot x 10 foot recreation of Uncle Scrooge McDuck's money bin, complete with giant gold coins and gems, and the Green Cheese of Longevity. It's like a ball pit for kids that's really for adults. Now that we understand.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1980sartconsoleexhibitionIAm8bitiam8bit-entertainment-systemRetro-gamingThu, 06 Jun 2013 22:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/rumor-rare-pluto-prototype-variant-of-sega-saturn-shown/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/rumor-rare-pluto-prototype-variant-of-sega-saturn-shown/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/rumor-rare-pluto-prototype-variant-of-sega-saturn-shown/#commentsSomeone claiming to be a former Sega employee, calling himself Super Magnetic (after the Dreamcast game) posted pictures on the ASSEMbler forums of a device purported to be the previously unseen "Sega Pluto," a prototype Sega Saturn variant with a built-in NetLink modem. The modem was released separately, and allowed web browsing along with online play of games including Duke Nukem 3D and Virtua Racing.

Super Magnetic says that this prototype, which runs North American Saturn firmware, is one of only two ever made. The American firmware, and Super Magnetic's having found this at his job at Sega of America in the Dreamcast era, both suggest that this hardware design is from Sega of America, much like the 32X.

A prototype for another unreleased Sega combination system, the Genesis/32X "Neptune," was on display recently at GDC's Videogame History Museum. Previous Sega combos include the JVC-designed X'Eye, the CDX, and the Tera Drive, which combined a Genesis and a PC.